Firearm Barrel Holders

ABSTRACT

In accordance with an example embodiment, there is disclosed herein an apparatus comprising a base and a barrel holder body coupled with the base. The barrel holder body comprises opposing arms made of a flexible material forming a cylindrical cavity with an opening configured to receive a first section of a barrel of a firearm.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119 of U.S.Provisional Application No. 62/053,904, filed Sep. 23, 2014.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to firearms and firearmaccessories.

BACKGROUND

Some firearms, such as air cooled .50 caliber machine gun, can fire alimited amount of ordinance before barrel heating becomes a problem. Toremedy the problems associated with barrel heating, barrel change outsmay be employed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings incorporated herein and forming a part of thespecification illustrate the example embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a firearm barrel holder.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the firearm barrel holder illustrated in FIG. 1

FIG. 3 is a side view of the firearm barrel holder illustrated in FIG. 1with an optional strap attached.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a strap that can be employed by afirearm barrel holder.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a firearm barrel with multiple firearmholders and a sleeve attached thereto.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a stacking arrangement of firearmbarrel holders.

OVERVIEW OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

The following presents a simplified overview of the example embodimentsin order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the exampleembodiments. This overview is not an extensive overview of the exampleembodiments. It is intended to neither identify key or critical elementsof the example embodiments nor delineate the scope of the appendedclaims. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of the exampleembodiments in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detaileddescription that is presented later.

In accordance with an example embodiment, there is disclosed herein anapparatus comprising a base and a barrel holder body coupled with thebase. The barrel holder body comprises opposing arms made of a flexiblematerial forming a cylindrical cavity with an opening configured toreceive a first section of a barrel of a firearm.

DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

This description provides examples not intended to limit the scope ofthe appended claims. The figures generally indicate the features of theexamples, where it is understood and appreciated that like referencenumerals are used to refer to like elements. Reference in thespecification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” or “an exampleembodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, orcharacteristic described is included in at least one embodimentdescribed herein and does not imply that the feature, structure, orcharacteristic is present in all embodiments described herein.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, where FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a firearmbarrel holder 100, there is illustrated an example of a firearm barrelholder 100 that comprises a generally planar flat mounting plate or baseB and a body 102 formed by opposing arms 101 or sections which define agenerally cylindrical cavity 103 configured to receive a section of abarrel of a gun. The body 102 with opposing arms 101, or separate bodies102 having an arm 101 and arranged in an opposing relationship, are madeof flexible material and with an opening 104 into the cylindrical cavity103, through which a section of gun barrel is passed for engagementbetween the opposing arms in a snug or tight gripping engagement.

In an example embodiment, the barrel holder 100 can be mounting to asupporting structure 105 by fasteners 106 that pass through the mountingplate B and/or through a portion of the opposing arms 101. Two or morepairs of opposing arms 101 may be provided on a single mounting plate Bwith the cylindrical cavities 103 defined by the arms in alignment.

In an example embodiment, an optional securement strap S, attached atends 107, 108 to a lateral area of the body 102 to traverse the armpairs 101, The strap S may be provided to extend over the opening 104 tothe cylindrical cavity 103. FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a Strap Ssuitable for an example embodiment.

In an example embodiment, the firearm barrel holders 100 are moldedeither partially or entirely of one or more polymeric materials, whichmay include an elastic polymer or “elastomer” and thermoplasticelastomers which exhibit viscoelasticity in durometers in theapproximate hardness ranges of 5 Shore A to 90 Shore A, 40 Shore A orlower, less than or equal to 80 Shore A, 40 Shore A to 70 Shore A, 50Shore A to 70 Shore A, of 35 Shore A to 60 Shore A.

In an example embodiment, such materials may include, for example, oneor more of the following: synthetic rubber, natural rubber, neoprene,butyl rubber, silicone, urethane, viscoelastic urethane, nylon, PVC,polyethylene, polystyrene, polypropylene, PVB (Polyvinyl butyral), PVDF(polyvinylidene fluoride) or Nanbrol®, a nano-particle reinforcednitrite butadiene rubber (NBR), and thermoplastic polymer alloys withSBR (styrene-butadiene rubber), EPDM ((ethylene propylene dieneterpolymer)) or urethanes as base polymers and blended to optimizedynamic properties, dimensional stability and elasticity, thermalresistance and fatigue performance.

In an example embodiment, additives which can be used with thesematerials in the manufacture of the described gun rail attachmentsinclude glass beads, Expandacel™, Kevlar™, Mylar™, fiberglass, cotton orother woven or non-woven materials in internal layers with the barrelholder bodies. In particular embodiments, additives or coatings (suchas, for example, Nomex™ or Nitrile™) can be selectively incorporatedinto the gun rail attachment body material or design for improved heatresistance, durability, strength, tackiness or surface friction, or anyother desired properties. The rigidity of the arms 101 can beselectively designed for optimal stiffness to allow installation of agun barrel through the opening to the cylindrical cavity while providinga sufficient gripping force.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a firearm barrel GB with multiplefirearm holders and 100 a sleeve 109 attached thereto. This example alsoillustrates bolt holes 107 that can be employed for fastening the barrelholders 100 onto the support structure 105. In an example embodiment, Tstrap latch points 108 are provided to enable a strap S to be attachedto a firearm holder 100.

In the illustrated example, a first barrel holder 100-1 is mounted on afirst end 110 of the support structure and a second barrel holder 100-2is mounted on a second end 111 of the support structure 105. Inparticular embodiments, a barrel sleeve 109 is attached to the firearmbarrel GB. In the illustrated example, the barrel sleeve 109 is locatedbetween the first barrel holder 100-1 mounted on first end 110 of thesupport structure and the second barrel holder 100-2, however, thoseskilled in the art can readily appreciate that the barrel sleeve 109 maybe located at any convenient location on gun barrel GB. Those skilled inthe art should also readily appreciate that the gun barrel GB isemployed for ease of illustration and explanation of the exampleembodiments and does not form a part of any of the example embodiments.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a stacking arrangement 112 of firearmbarrel holders 100. In an example embodiment, a strap 116 is employed tosecure the firearm holders 100 in the stacking arrangement 112.

The firearm barrel holder 100 described in the example embodimentsherein provide a novel firearm accessory by which the barrel of afirearm such as a machine gun, such as for example the M2 machine gun,can be quickly secured and safely fired in the installed position. Thebarrel holder 100 may be mounted to a fixed mounting structure such as astand or frame member, or to an articulated structure such as a tripodor other mount which swivel or pivot function that allows movement ofthe firearm barrel in multiple dimensions. The interior surfaces of theopposing arms 101 can be molded in any configuration, such as forexample smooth wall surfaces, one or more projections, tapered, or otherconfigurations which have additional cavities or deviations fromcylindrical and which may be configured to fit over other parts of afirearm than the barrel. Also, the arms 101 may function as cooperatingsupports for the barrel or breech or stock of a gun, wherein one or moresections of a gun are supported by the uppermost extent of each of thearms. Alternatively, the body may be formed with a single monolithicprojection from the base to an upper support surface for contact with agun barrel or other part or area of a gun.

Described above are example embodiments. It is, of course, not possibleto describe every conceivable combination of components ormethodologies, but one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize thatmany further combinations and permutations of the example embodimentsare possible. Accordingly, this application is intended to embrace allsuch alterations, modifications and variations that fall within thespirit and scope of the appended claims interpreted in accordance withthe breadth to which they are fairly, legally and equitably entitled.

1. An apparatus, comprising: a first base; and a first barrel holderbody coupled with the base, the first barrel holder body comprises firstopposing arms made of a flexible material forming a first cylindricalcavity with a first opening configured to receive a first section of abarrel of a firearm.
 2. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, furthercomprising a support structure, wherein one of a group consisting of thefirst base, the first barrel holder body, and both the first base andthe first barrel holder body are coupled with a first end of the supportstructure via a fastener.
 3. The apparatus set forth in claim 2, furthercomprising a second base; and a second barrel holder coupled with thesecond base, the second barrel holder body comprises second opposingarms wherein one of a group consisting of the second base, the secondbarrel holder body, and both the second base and the second barrelholder body are coupled with a second end of the support structure via afastener.
 4. The apparatus set forth in claim 3, wherein a first portionof a firearm barrel is engaged with the first barrel holder body and asecond portion of the firearm barrel is engaged with the second barrelholder body, further comprising a barrel sleeve disposed on the firearmbarrel between the first barrel holder body and the second barrel holderbody.
 5. The apparatus set forth in claim 1, further comprising asecurement strap attached to ends of the first barrel holder body
 6. Theapparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein the first base and the firstbarrel holder body are molded at least partially of one at least onepolymeric materials.
 7. The apparatus set forth in claim 6, wherein theat least one polymeric material that includes an elastic polymer and athermoplastic elastomer.
 8. The apparatus set forth in claim 7, whereinthe polymeric material has a hardness range selected from a groupconsisting of 5 Shore A to 90 Shore A, no more than 40 Shore A, lessthan 80 Shore A, 40 Shore A to 70 Shore A, 50 Shore A to 70 Shore A, and35 Shore A to 60 Shore A.
 9. The apparatus set forth in claim 7, whereinthe polymeric material comprises one of a group consisting of syntheticrubber, natural rubber, neoprene, butyl rubber, silicone, urethane,viscoelastic urethane, nylon, PVC, polyethylene, polystyrene,polypropylene, PVB, PVDF or Nanbrol®, a nano-particle reinforced nitritebutadiene rubber (NBR), and thermoplastic polymer alloys with one of agroup consisting of SBR, EPDM and urethanes as base polymers.
 10. Theapparatus set forth in claim 7, wherein the polymeric material furthercomprises an additive selected from a group consisting of glass beads,Expandacel™ Kevlar™, Mylar™, fiberglass, cotton, a woven material, andnon-woven material
 11. The apparatus set forth in claim 7, wherein thepolymeric material further comprises a coating selected from a groupconsisting of Nomex™ and Nitrile™